SABR Analytics Conference

2018 SABR Analytics Conference Schedule

The seventh annual SABR Analytics Conference was held March 9-11, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Here is the full schedule for the 2018 SABR Analytics Conference. Click on a link below for more highlights.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
Hyatt Regency Phoenix

• 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Registration open at Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
• 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch
  Analytics Conference registration includes lunch.
• 1:00-1:10 p.m.: Conference Welcome
  SABR President Vince Gennaro and SABR CEO Marc Appleman will welcome attendees to the 2018 SABR Analytics Conference.
• 1:10-2:00 p.m.: The State of Analytics: Brian Kenny and Jon Sciambi
  MLB Network host Brian Kenny and ESPN announcer Jon “Boog” Sciambi will speak on The State of Analytics.
• 2:00-2:30 p.m.: Research Presentation 1
  RP1—Sean Forman and Hans Van Slooten, “WAR: We’ll Try to Resist all Puns and Still Tell You What It Is Good For”
• 2:45-3:45 p.m.: MLB Team Approach to Analytics
  Speakers: Amiel Sawdaye, Arizona Diamondbacks; Eduardo Perez, ESPN; Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Mike Ferrin, Arizona Diamondbacks/MLB Network Radio. Moderator: Vince Gennaro, SABR.
• 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Statcast Presentation
  Speakers: Tom Tango, Daren Willman, and Mike Petriello of MLB Advanced Media.
• 5:00-5:10 p.m.: Introduction to Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  SABR President Vince Gennaro will introduce the 2018 Diamond Dollars Case Competition in the Regency Ballroom, with presentations to follow upstairs on the second floor.
• 5:15-10:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  Presentations of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2018

• 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Registration open at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
• 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Player Development Panel
  Speakers: Chris Getz, Chicago White Sox; Andy McKay, Seattle Mariners. Moderator: Eduardo Perez, ESPN.
• 9:45-10:45 a.m.: Research Presentations 2-3 
  RP2—Vince Gennaro, “Differentiating Performance vs. Potential in Player Development”
  RP3—Brian Reiff, “Defense in PARTs: Splitting Positioning, Airballs, Range, and Throwing”
• 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Is the Media Doing its Part to Advance the Analytics Discussion?
  Speakers: Jon Sciambi, ESPN; Eno Sarris, The Athletic; author Rob Neyer. Moderator: Brian Kenny, MLB Network.
• 12:00-12:45 p.m.: Global Sports Betting and the Role of Integrity Technology
  Speaker: Bill Squadron, Genius Sports.
• 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Lunch
  Analytics Conference registration includes lunch.
• 2:00-2:30 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation
  Sabermetric pioneer Pete Palmer will be honored with the second SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award.
• 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Research Presentations 4-5 
  RP4—Matt Swartz, “Knowledge and Evolution in the Free Agent Market”
  RP5—Rob Mains and Pete Palmer, “A Revised Look at Clutch Hitting”
• 3:45-4:30 p.m.: Diverse Perspectives Panel
  Speakers: Dr. Lorena Martin, Seattle Mariners; Ehsan Bokhari, Los Angeles Dodgers; Philip Cho, Los Angeles Dodgers; Emilee Fragapane, Los Angeles Dodgers. Moderator: Vince Gennaro, SABR.
• 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  Encore presentation by the Washington University in St. Louis team at the Diamond Dollars Case Competition. Click here to learn more.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Networking Reception with Baseball Industry Network
  The networking reception (Atrium Lounge, 2nd floor — note the new location due to inclement weather) is an opportunity for conference attendees to meet some of our panelists, speakers, writers and others working throughout the baseball industry. Cash bar. Click here for more details.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018

• 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Registration open at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.  
• 8:30-9:00 a.m.:  Research Presentation 6 
  RP6—Travis Petersen, “Augmenting Statcast Hit Probability with Hit Direction and Sprint Speed”
• 9:00-10:00 a.m.: Technology Panel
  Speakers: Jeremy Booth, New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series; Matt Reiland, Power Alley Analytics; Jarett Sims, Monsterful VR. Moderator: Brett Kurland, Arizona State University.
• 10:15-11:15 a.m.: Research Presentations 7-8
  RP7—Glenn Healey and Shiyuan Zhao, “Modeling Batter Characteristics Using Hit-Tracking Data”
  RP8—Mark Simon, “Has the Shift Seen Its Day?”
• 11:15-11:30 a.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Research Award presentations
  The winners of the 2018 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards will be announced and presented.
  
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Pitching Panel
  Speakers: Eric Gagne, Texas Rangers; former Chicago Cubs GM Ed Lynch. Moderator: Barry Bloom.
• 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Research Presentations 9-10 
  RP9—Alex Vigderman, “Synthetic Statcast Data”
  RP10—Dorion Liston, et al, “Visual Tracking: An Indicator of Health and Performance” 
• 1:45-2:00 p.m.: Conference wrap-up by SABR President Vince Gennaro and SABR CEO Marc Appleman.

For more coverage of the 2018 SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics/2018.